Fastening device for releasably fastening a mechanism in the region of a floor of an aircraft or space craft and arrangement for a cargo loading system

ABSTRACT

A fastening device is disclosed for releasably fastening a mechanism in the region of a floor of an aircraft or spacecraft and includes a base component and a latch component. The latch component includes at least one holding portion including a latch-component-side holding face and is movably coupled to the base component between an unlocked and a locked position. When positioned in a predefined mounting position on the floor component and/or on the base component, the holding portion of the latch component engages a fastening portion, and the latch-component-side holding face faces the mechanism-side holding face. During passage of the latch component from locked position into unlocked position a gap between the latch-component-side holding face and the mechanism-side holding face continuously widens. The invention further relates to an arrangement for a cargo loading system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/755,991 filed Jan. 24, 2013 and German patentapplication No. 10 2013 201 120.2 filed Jan. 24, 2013, the entiredisclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fastening device for releasablyfastening a mechanism in the region of a floor of an aircraft orspacecraft. In particular, the fastening device may be used forreleasably fastening a mechanism in the region of a cargo hold floor ofan aircraft or spacecraft. The invention further relates to anarrangement for a cargo loading system of an aircraft or spacecraft.

BACKGROUND

Although the invention may be useful for releasably fastening variousmechanisms, assemblies or pieces of equipment in the region of a floorwithin an aircraft or spacecraft, the set of problems on which theinvention is based are to be explained in greater detail in thefollowing in relation to fastening a mechanism which forms a componentof a cargo loading system in the cargo hold of an aeroplane.

So as to move and position pieces of cargo, cargo pallets or cargocontainers as expediently and time-efficiently as possible in a cargohold of an aeroplane when loading said aircraft, specially formedmechanisms are often provided for this purpose in the region of thecargo hold floor. Mechanisms of this type comprise in particular rollertracks, which together form a roller system which in turn forms part ofthe cargo loading system of the aeroplane. In particular, roller tracksof this type are provided with rollers which are set up so as forexample to carry and movably support pallets or containers and whichthus make it possible to move the pallets and containers within thecargo hold during the loading and unloading process.

Whilst roller tracks of this type are intended to be available forefficiently transporting for example luggage, packaged goods or othercargo in containers or on pallets in the region of the cargo hold floor,it may also be desirable, in particular in the case of aeroplanes whichare basically used for transporting cargo, depending on the type ofcargo to be transported, to have as smooth and planar a cargo hold flooras possible available, from which no additional mechanisms such asroller tracks or the like protrude. A planar, obstacle-free cargo holdfloor may for example be desirable if vehicles, for example heavy-goodsvehicles, are to be moved into the cargo hold of a cargo aeroplane undertheir own power.

It would thus be useful to fasten roller tracks, and if desired alsoother mechanisms which are installed on the cargo hold floor and formcomponents of a cargo loading system or a roller system, releasably inthe region of the cargo hold floor, so as to be able to reconfigure thecargo hold time-efficiently for adaptation to the cargo to betransported.

SUMMARY

Against this background, an aspect of the present invention is tospecify a device which makes it reliably possible to fasten a device,such as a roller track for a cargo loading system, releasably in theregion of the floor of an aircraft or spacecraft. A device suitable forthis purpose is to be provided which is also good to operate and makespossible rapid adaptation of the cargo hold to the loads to betransported. Preferably, the device to be provided should still befunctional and simple to operate under adverse circumstances such as inthe event of severe soiling of the floor. A further aspect of thepresent invention is to improve a cargo loading system of an aircraft orspacecraft accordingly.

Accordingly, the invention provides a fastening device which is used forreleasably fastening a mechanism in the region of a floor, in particulara cargo hold floor, of an aircraft or spacecraft and comprises a basecomponent and a latch component. The base component is provided so as tobe rigidly coupled to a floor component which is formed for introducinga load into the floor, for example a duct or a rail. The latch componentcomprises at least one holding portion comprising a latch-component-sideholding face. Further, the latch component is coupled to the basecomponent in such a way that the latch component is movable between anunlocked position and a locked position with respect to the basecomponent.

According to the invention, the latch component of the fastening deviceis formed in such a way that, when the mechanism is positioned in partin a predefined mounting position on the floor component and/or on thebase component, the holding portion of the latch component engagesaround a fastening portion, which is formed on the mechanism andequipped with at least one mechanism-side holding face, in the region ofthe mechanism-side holding face during the passage of the latchcomponent into the locked position. This engagement takes place in sucha way that the latch-component-side holding face faces themechanism-side holding face. In the fastening device, thelatch-component-side holding face is formed in such a way that duringpassage of the latch component from the locked position into theunlocked position a gap between the latch-component-side holding faceand the mechanism-side holding face continuously widens.

Further, according to the invention an arrangement for a cargo loadingsystem of an aircraft or spacecraft, in particular of an aeroplane, isproposed, which comprises at least one mechanism and at least onefastening device according to the invention. In this context, thefastening portion comprising the at least one mechanism-side holdingface according to the invention is formed on the device. In thearrangement according to the invention for a cargo loading system, thefastening device is used for releasably fastening the device in theregion of a floor of the aircraft or spacecraft. In this context, thedevice is provided for moving, conveying, handling or movably supportingcargo, in particular packaged goods cargo, cargo pallets and/or cargocontainers. The mechanism may in particular be in the form of a rollertrack.

The idea behind the present invention is to fix the mechanism in theregion of the floor in at least one direction by means of two mutuallyfacing holding faces, a latch-component-side holding face and amechanism-side holding face, and to form and arrange these mutuallyfacing holding faces in such a way that during the unlocking process, inother words when bringing the latch component from the locked positioninto the unlocked position, a gap between these holding facescontinuously widens, in other words a distance between these holdingfaces thus constantly increases as the locking is released. This has theadvantage that even if dirt such as sand penetrates between the holdingfaces, for example while the mechanism is being fastened, the holdingfaces can be prevented from jamming with respect to one another.Particularly in an application of the fastening device in the region ofa floor, especially a cargo hold floor, of an aircraft or spacecraft,this creates the possibility of reliably and time-efficiently fasteninga mechanism such as a roller track which is part of a roller system fora cargo loading system. Annoying delays due to jamming fastening meanswhen rearranging a cargo hold can be prevented using the invention.

Advantageous configurations, improvements and developments of theinvention may be taken from the dependent claims and from thedescription with reference to the drawings.

In a configuration of the fastening device according to the invention,the passage of the latch component into the locked position makes itpossible to bring the latch-component-side holding face into planarcontact with the mechanism-side holding face. In this way, particularlyeffective fixing of the mechanism can be achieved.

In accordance with an advantageous configuration of the fasteningdevice, the latch-component-side holding face forms a portion of a screwface.

In accordance with a further advantageous configuration, themechanism-side holding face forms a portion of a screw face.

In accordance with another further improvement, the latch-component-sideholding face and the mechanism-side holding face are each in the form ofa portion of a screw face.

As a result of holding faces in the form of screw faces, the widening ofthe gap between the latch-component-side and mechanism-side holdingfaces can be provided in a simple and effective manner.

It may be advantageous to form the latch-component-side andmechanism-side holding faces as portions of screw faces which are of thesame type and parameterised in the same manner, in particular having thesame pitch. The screw faces which define the latch-component-side andmechanism-side holding faces may in particular be identical. This makesit easier to produce planar contact between the holding faces in thelocked position. In a development of the fastening device, the latchcomponent is formed in such a way that the latch-component-side holdingface can be brought into engagement with the mechanism-side holding facein the manner of a thread when the mechanism is positioned in themounting position on the floor component and/or on the base componentand the latch component is passing from the unlocked position into thelocked position. By way of this development, reliable locking of themechanism and additionally continuous widening of the gap between theholding faces during unlocking can be achieved in a simple manner.

In a further development of the fastening device, the latch component ismounted on the base component so as to be rotatable about an axis ofrotation. In this context, the latch component can be moved between theunlocked position and the locked position by way of a rotationalmovement about the axis of rotation. This may improve the ease ofoperation of the fastening device, for example even if an operator iswearing gloves, for example, during the locking and unlocking processfor reasons of temperature or for otherwise protecting the hands.Further, the possibility of rotating the latch component, in conjunctionwith the latch-component-side and mechanism-side holding faces being inthe form of portions of a screw-face, makes possible an expedientimplementation of the widening of the gap between the holding facesduring unlocking.

In a configuration of the fastening device, the passage of the latchcomponent from the locked position into the unlocked position or fromthe unlocked position into the locked position can be brought about bytwisting the latch component about the axis of rotation through an angleof less than 180 degrees, preferably through an angle of substantially90 degrees. This configuration facilitates the handling of the fasteningdevice. In addition, in particular if the angle is substantially 90degrees, an operator can easily detect whether the latch component islocated in the locked position or in the unlocked position or betweenthe two. Furthermore, an angle of substantially 90 degrees may befavourable if a plurality of holding portions, in particular two, are tobe arranged on the latch component, so as to fasten a plurality ofmechanisms, in particular two, releasably by means of a rotationalmovement.

In an advantageous development of the fastening device, a firstresilient element is provided, which is coupled to the base componentand the latch component in such a way that the first resilient elementcounters the passage of the latch component from the locked positioninto the unlocked position. The first resilient element may inparticular be in the form of a first spring. This development mayadvantageously contribute to preventing the latch component from beingunintentionally moved out of the locked position thereof. As a result,the reliability of the fastening device can be increased.

In a further advantageous configuration of the fastening device, thelatch component and the base component are coupled to one another insuch a way that the latch component latches releasably at least in thelocked position, preferably in each of the locked position and theunlocked position. The latching can likewise contribute to preventingthe latch component from moving out of the locked position withoutoperator intervention.

In this configuration, if the first resilient element is also providedat the same time, double securing of the latch component againstunintentional movement out of the locked position can be achieved.Latching in the unlocked position may additionally simplify laying thedevice in the predefined mounting position.

In accordance with a further development of the fastening device, asecond resilient element, in particular a second spring, is provided, bymeans of which an engagement element, displaceably guided in the latchcomponent, is resiliently coupled to the latch component. In addition,in this development at least one engagement recess associated with thelocked position is provided on the base component or on a part rigidlyconnected to the base component. In a preferred variant, a furtherengagement recess associated with the unlocked position may additionallybe provided on the base component or on the part rigidly connected tothe base component. In this context, the engagement element can engagein the engagement recess or engagement recesses for releasableengagement under the action of the second resilient element. By way ofthis configuration, effective releasable engagement of the latchcomponent on the base component or on the part rigidly connected to thebase component, which part may for example be a mounting ring formounting the latch component on the base component, may be broughtabout.

In a further advantageous configuration of the fastening device, boththe first resilient element and the second resilient element areprovided as well as the engagement element and the engagementrecess(es). This has the advantage that, for example if one of theresilient elements fails—for example by breaking—the latch component canstill be held reliably in the locked position. This can further improvethe safety of the fastening device according to the invention.

In accordance with a configuration of the fastening device, the basecomponent comprises at least one support portion comprising at least onesupport face. In this context, in the unlocked position of the latchcomponent the fastening portion of the mechanism can be laid in part onthe support face. This facilitates defined positioning of the fasteningportion of the mechanism with respect to the latch component and thebase component, and the device can additionally be supported againstacting loads by the base part in the region of the fastening portion.

In accordance with a development of the fastening device, the basecomponent is formed in such a way that it can be brought into positiveengagement with the fastening portion of the mechanism, when themechanism is laid in part on the floor component and/or on the basecomponent in the predefined mounting position, in such a way that it ismade possible for tensile loads to be transferred between the mechanismand the base component in a first direction. In this context, it isprovided that the first direction extends substantially perpendicular toa second direction, along which the fastening portion of the mechanismcan be fixed by the cooperation of the latch-component-side holding faceand the mechanism-side holding face. The mechanism is thusadvantageously also prevented by means of the fastening device frommoving with respect to the floor in a second direction. This is broughtabout in a simple manner by laying the mechanism on.

In a further development of the fastening device, the base componentcomprises a projection which is formed and arranged in such a way thatthe projection can be introduced into an associated opening of themechanism, when the mechanism is laid on the floor component and/or onthe base component, so as to bring about the positive engagement. Inthis context, the projection is preferably formed in such a way that itonly fills up the associated opening of the mechanism in part when itengages in the opening. In this development, the positive engagement andthe transmission of tensile forces are implemented in a simple manner.

In accordance with a configuration of the fastening device, the latchcomponent comprises two holding portions each comprising alatch-component-side holding face, the holding portions preferably beingprovided on opposite ends of the latch component. In this configuration,two mechanisms can advantageously be releasably fastened to therespective fastening portions thereof in the region of the floorsimultaneously by passing, in particular twisting, a single latchcomponent from the unlocked position into the locked position.

In accordance with a further configuration of the fastening device, thebase component comprises two support portions each comprising at leastone support face for a respective fastening portion of an associated oneof two mechanisms which are to be releasably fastened. This provides thepossibility of supporting and positioning and provides support for twomechanisms on one base component.

In a development of the arrangement according to the invention for acargo loading system, the mechanism is formed so as to be reversible,the fastening portion comprising an upper side and an underside and amechanism-side holding face being formed in the same manner in each casein the region of the upper side and the underside of the fasteningportion. This development has for example the advantage that themechanism can be releasably fastened in two positions in the region ofthe floor in the same manner by means of the fastening device. This mayfor example also be advantageous, among other cases, if the mechanism isformed with a planar underside which can be faced towards the cargo holdas a result of the reversal.

In accordance with a development of the arrangement for a cargo loadingsystem, the mechanism is in the form of a roller track. As a result ofusing the fastening device according to the invention, it is reliablypossible to fasten the roller track releasably in the region of thefloor, and it can be made much easier to reconfigure a cargo hold inwhich the cargo loading system is installed.

In a further development of the arrangement for a cargo loading system,the fastening portion is in the form of an end portion of the mechanism.In this context, the mechanism-side holding face is formed on thefastening portion, proceeding from an edge of the fastening portion. Ina preferred variant, the holding face may be worked into the end portionof the mechanism starting from an end-face edge of the mechanism. Inthis development, the fastening portion can be engaged aroundparticularly well by the holding portion of the latch component.

In accordance with another further development of the arrangement for acargo loading system, two opposing end portions of the mechanism areeach in the form of a fastening portion each comprising at least onemechanism-side holding face. In this way, the mechanism can be fastenedreleasably particularly expediently. This may in particular take placeby means of two fastening devices according to the invention, in whichcase each of the two fastening portions is engaged around by the holdingportion of the latch component of an associated one of the two fasteningdevices and thus locked.

The above configurations, developments and improvements may be combinedwith one another in any desired manner, within reason. Further possibleconfigurations, developments and implementations also comprisecombinations which are not explicitly mentioned of features of theinvention which are disclosed in the above or in the following inrelation to the embodiments. In particular, in this context, the personskilled in the art will also add individual aspects to the respectivebasic form of the invention as improvements or additions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention is explained in greater detail by way ofembodiments with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of an arrangement of a cargoloading system comprising a fastening device in accordance with anembodiment of the invention, two mechanisms in the form of roller tracksbeing fastened releasably in the region of a schematically indicatedcargo hold floor of an aeroplane by means of the fastening device;

FIG. 1A is a schematic sketch of a cross-section of an example aeroplanefuselage comprising a cargo hold floor;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of the fastening device inaccordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1, mechanisms which are fastenedby means of the fastening device not being shown;

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view from above of the fastening deviceaccording to FIG. 1, only one mechanism in the form of a roller trackbeing fastened releasably in the region of a cargo hold floor (notshown) by means of the arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a detail D as indicated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective partial view of the fastening device inaccordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1, a base component of thefastening device being shown half-transparent for clearer illustration;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of part of the fastening device in accordance withthe embodiment of FIG. 1, a latch component of the fastening devicebeing shown half-transparent for clearer illustration; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fastening device in accordance withthe embodiment of FIG. 1, the fastening device being shown sectioned ina vertical plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The appended drawings are intended to convey further understanding ofthe embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, inconjunction with the description, serve to illustrate principles andideas relating to the invention. Other embodiments and many of thestated advantages can be seen from the drawings. The elements of thedrawings are not necessarily shown to scale with one another. In thedrawings, like reference numerals denote like, functionally equivalentor equivalently operating elements, features and components unlessstated otherwise.

FIG. 1 shows part of an arrangement 1 for a cargo loading system in thecargo hold of an aeroplane, not shown in its entirety. The arrangement 1comprises a number of mechanisms 2 which are in the form of rollertracks of a roller system for the cargo loading system, comprise rollers2 a, and serve to support in particular cargo pallets and/or cargocontainers movably, making it possible to move and position them withinthe cargo hold.

FIG. 1 also schematically shows a floor 3 of the cargo hold. FIG. 1A isa schematic cross-section through an example aeroplane fuselage 4, thefloor 3, extending transversely through the aeroplane fuselage 4, of thecargo hold also being shown. However, the drawing of FIG. 1A is merelyintended to be illustrative, and it goes without saying that theaeroplane fuselage 4 need not necessarily be formed with a circularcross-section as shown in FIG. 1A, but may also have a differentexpedient cross-section. In addition, the floor 3 may be positioned atany desired expedient position along a vertical direction z of theaeroplane fuselage 4, depending on the desired division of an aeroplaneinterior into cargo regions and regions for other purposes.

Ducts 5 are provided in the floor 3, and are formed in the floor 3 asfloor components for introducing loads, for example from gravitationalforces from the cargo pallets or cargo containers lying on themechanisms 2. One of the ducts 5 is shown in FIG. 1 and extends by wayof example in a longitudinal direction x of the aeroplane fuselage 4.

The arrangement 1 in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1additionally comprises fastening devices 6 for releasably fastening thedevice 2 to the floor 3, only one of the fastening devices 6 being shownin FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity. However, further fastening devices 6are formed in the same manner described in the following and shown inFIGS. 1 to 7 for the fastening device 6 shown in FIG. 1.

The fastening device 6, which is shown in FIG. 2 without the mechanisms2 in the form of roller tracks, comprises a base component 7 and a latchcomponent 8. The base component 7 is provided so as to be coupledrigidly to the duct 5. For this purpose, by way of example, the basecomponent 7 shown in FIG. 2 comprises lateral holes 11, by means ofwhich the base component 7 can be rigidly connected to the duct 5, forexample by screwing using screws 12 (only shown schematically in FIG.1).

The latch component 8 is mounted on the base component 7 so as to berotatable through an angle α about an axis of rotation A with respect tothe base component 7, making it possible to twist the latch component 8from a locked position V to an unlocked position E with respect to thebase component 7. In the embodiment shown, the axis of rotation Aextends substantially parallel to the vertical direction z when the basecomponent 7 is rigidly connected to the duct 5.

FIG. 2 shows the latch component 8 in the locked position V thereof,whilst the outline of the latch component 8 for the unlocked position Eis shown as a dashed line in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown, the angleα through which the latch component can be rotated between the unlockedposition E and the locked position V with respect to the base componentis substantially 90 degrees.

Further, the latch component 8 is equipped with two holding portions 13,which are arranged at opposite ends 14 a, 14 b of the latch component 8.Each of the holding portions 13 is equipped with a latch-component-sideholding face 15 which faces towards the base component 7.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the two mechanisms 2 each comprise a fasteningportion 16, the fastening portions 16 each being formed as an endportion of the associated mechanism 2. It should be noted that each ofthe mechanisms 2 (only shown in part) may comprise two opposite endportions, each of which is in the form of a fastening portion 16 whichis disclosed in greater detail in the following. However, FIG. 1 onlyshows one end portion formed in this manner for each of the twomechanisms 2.

The base component 7 of the fastening device 6 comprises two supportportions 18 arranged at opposite ends 17 of the base component, supportfaces 21 for the fastening portion 16 of one of the mechanisms 2 beingformed inside each of the support portions 18 on the base component 7;see FIGS. 2 and 3.

In the unlocked position E (see FIG. 2) of the latch component 8, thefastening portion 16 of each of the two means 2 may be laid in part onthe respective support face 21 of the associated support portion 18 onthe base component 7. The support faces 21 may for example be planar inform and, when the base component 7 is rigidly connected to the duct 5,extend substantially parallel to a surface, facing the cargo hold, ofthe floor 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the fastening portion 16 comprises anunderside 22 a and an upper side 23 a. In the mounting position shown inFIG. 1 of the two mechanisms 2, each of the two mechanisms 2 ispositioned in the region of the fastening portion 16 in surfaceportions, likewise preferably planar in form, of the underside 22 a onthe associated support faces 21. In addition, in a preferred variant,each of the mechanisms 2 may be laid in part on the duct 5, for exampleon an edge or a step of the duct 5, for support in the verticaldirection z.

The fastening portion 16 is further equipped with a mechanism-sideholding face 24 in each case in the region of the underside 22 a and theupper side 23 a. The fastening portion 16 is thus provided with twomechanism-side holding faces 24, formed in the same manner, on oppositefaces of the fastening portion 16. The mechanism-side holding faces 24extend into the fastening portion 16, proceeding from an edge 25thereof, and may for example be worked into the fastening portion 16 bymechanical machining.

It should be noted that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the fasteningportions 16 are formed in the same manner on both mechanisms 2. In thisembodiment, the two holding portions 13 comprising thelatch-component-side holding faces 15 are also formed in the samemanner.

In the situation shown in FIG. 1, as stated previously, the twomechanisms 2 in the form of roller tracks are each located in apredefined mounting position, into which they can be brought when thelatch component 8 is located in the unlocked position E thereof (seeFIG. 2).

So as to fasten the device 2 releasably in the region of the floor 3,the latch component 8 is brought from the unlocked position E into thelocked position V by rotation through the angle α about the axis ofrotation A. FIG. 1 shows the latch component 8 in the locked position V.When the latch component 8 passes into the locked position V, each ofthe two holding portions 13 of the latch component 8 engages around thefastening portion 16 of the associated mechanism 2 in the region of therespective mechanism-side holding face 24 facing away from the basecomponent 7. During this engagement around the mechanism-side holdingface 24, facing away from the base component 7, of the fastening portion16, the respective latch-component-side holding face 15 is facingtowards the associated mechanism 2. As a result of the latch component 8passing to the locked position V, the latch-component-side holding face15 and the facing mechanism-side 24, upper in FIG. 1, are brought intoplanar contact with one another.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 3 and 4, both thelatch-component-side holding faces 15 and the mechanism-side holdingfaces 24 are each in the form of portions of a suitable screw face. Inthe embodiment shown, the screw faces which define the holding faces 15and 24 are of the same type and have the same pitch. As a result, whenthe latch component 8 is twisted from the unlocked position E into thelocked position V each of the latch-component-side holding faces 15 canbe brought into engagement in the manner of a thread with the associatedfacing mechanism-side holding face 24 when the mechanisms 2 are locatedin the mounting positions thereof as shown in FIG. 1.

As a result of the rotation about the axis of rotation A, surface pointsof the latch-component-side holding faces 15 move on circular paths inparallel planes which extend normal to the axis of rotation A. Themutually facing holding faces 15 and 24 are formed in such a way thatwhen the locking is released by twisting the latch component 8 from thelocked position V into the unlocked position E a gap S between thelatch-component-side holding face 15 and the facing mechanism-sideholding face 24 widens continuously during the twisting, in other wordsthe width of the gap S continuously increases. The distance between theholding faces 15 and 24, measured normal to these holding faces 15 and24, should be treated as the gap width. If the mutually facing holdingfaces 15 and 24 are in planar contact against one another in the lockedposition V, the gap width is substantially zero in this position of thelatch component 8. When the latch component 8 is twisted in thedirection towards the unlocked position E, the gap S, indicated byreference numeral S in FIG. 4, appears, and continuously widens duringthe opening of the locking.

The continuous increase in the gap width between the two mutually facingholding faces 15 and 24 has the advantage that foreign bodies, inparticular sand and dirt, which can easily arrive predominantly on theupwards-facing mechanism-side holding face 24, as a result of thearrangement of the fastening device 6 in the region of the floor 3, andthus between the mutually facing holding faces 15 and 24 during thetwisting of the latch component 8 into the locked position V, do notlead to the latch component 8 jamming with respect to the fasteningportion 16 when the locking is opened, in other words when the latchcomponent 8 is twisted from the locked position V into the unlockedposition E. In this way, it can advantageously be ensured that thelocking can be released in a simple and time-efficient manner withoutjamming.

Because the latch component 8 can be twisted about the axis of rotationA, the fastening device 6 is easy to handle. For example, the fasteningdevice 6 can still be operated well by an operator even with paddedgloves. In addition, two fastening portions 16 can be fixed by means ofa single rotation movement. The angle α of 90 degrees between the lockedand unlocked positions makes it possible for the operator to detectrapidly and without difficulty whether the latch component 8 is locatedin the desired position.

In addition to the support faces 21, a projection 26 is provided at eachend 17 of the base component 7. The two projections 26 project from thebase component, are arranged on the same side of the base component 7 onwhich the support faces 21 are also arranged, and protrude beyond thesupport faces 21, as is shown for example in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7. Forexample, the projections 26 may extend substantially parallel to theaxis of rotation A.

If one of the mechanisms 2 shown in FIG. 1 is brought into thepredefined mounting position thereof and in the process the mechanism 2is laid in part on the duct 5 and the fastening portion 16 thereof islaid on the support faces 21, one of the projections which is associatedwith the mechanism 2 engages positively in an associated opening 27formed on the mechanism 2, in that the projection 26 is introduced intothe opening 27. This is shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The engagement of theprojection 26 in the opening 27 makes it possible for tensile forces tobe transmitted between the base component 7 and the mechanism 2 indirection x (see FIG. 1), which extends parallel to a longitudinaldirection L of the mechanism 2, and thus substantially perpendicular tothe vertical direction z in which the mechanism is fixed by thecooperation of the mutually facing holding faces 15 and 24.Advantageously, the projection 26 only fills the opening 27 in part andnot completely, and only a surface portion thereof facing the axis ofrotation A and the latch portion 8 lies on a surface, bordering theopening 27, of the mechanism 2.

In FIG. 1, the two mechanisms 2 in the form of roller tracks arearranged in such a way that the rollers 2 a project upwards from thefloor 3 in the vertical direction z. In this way, loads, in particularcontainers and pallets for cargo, can be deposited on the rollers 2 aand moved inside the cargo hold and positioned therein by means of therollers 2 a.

As disclosed above, two mechanism-side holding faces 24 formed in thesame manner are provided on each of the fastening portions 16. Theopening 27 is in the form of a through-opening in which the projection26 can engage both from the underside 22 and from the upper side 23 ofthe mechanism 2, depending on whether the underside 22 or the upper side23 is facing the base component 7.

In this way, the two mechanisms 2 are formed so as to be reversible.Starting from the state shown in FIG. 1, the locking can be released bypassing the latch component 8 of the shown fastening device 6 into theunlocked position E—and if applicable by twisting the latch component 8of a fastening device 6 (not shown in FIG. 1), arranged on the other end(not shown) of the mechanism for fixing a further fastening portion 16of the mechanism 2, in a corresponding manner.

The mechanism 2 can subsequently be removed from the base component 7and the duct 5. After reversing the mechanism 2, in other words afterrotating it through 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis thereof—cf.FIG. 1—the mechanism 2 can in turn be laid in part on the base component7 and the duct 5, the rollers 2 a of the mechanism 2 subsequentlydisappearing in the duct 5. If the underside 22 of the mechanism2—excluding the region in which the mechanism-side holding face 24 isarranged—is planar in form, a planar, obstacle-free cargo hold floor canbe created by reversing the mechanism 2, and can be traveled overwithout difficulty, for example by a motor vehicle, after releasablyfastening the mechanism 2 in the reversed position.

When the mechanism 2 is laid on in the reversed position, planarportions of the upper side 23 a of the fastening portion 16 come intocontact with the support faces 21 formed on the base component 7. Bytwisting the latch component 7 through the angle α from the unlockedposition E into the locked position V, the mechanism 2 can in turn bereleasably fixed in position in the region of the floor 3. Forces whichact in the longitudinal direction L of the mechanism 2 on the underside22, which is turned upwards in the reversed position, for example whenit is traveled over by a motor vehicle, can be braced by means of theprojection 26 and the opening 27 as tensile loads. If the two ends ofthe mechanism 2 are each fixed by means of a fastening device 6, it ispossible to absorb forces in both directions along the longitudinaldirection L as tensile loads. Since the projections 26 do not completelyfill the respectively assigned opening 27, a compressive load on themechanism 2 in the longitudinal direction L can be prevented and kinkingof the mechanism 2 can be prevented.

In this context, it should be noted that it may be advantageous, as canbe seen for example from FIG. 3, if the projection 26 and the latchcomponent 8 are formed and dimensioned in such a way that, when themechanism 2 is fastened, the projection 26 and the latch component 8project neither beyond the planar part of the upper side 23, in theposition shown in FIG. 3 of the mechanism 2, nor beyond the planar partof the underside 22, in a reversed position of the mechanism 2.

The reversible mounting of the latch component 8 on the base component 7is to be explained in greater detail in the following with reference toFIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

The latch component 8 comprises a central portion 31, from which the twoholding portions 13 extend proceeding in opposite directions, whichextend substantially parallel to the support faces 21 of the base part 7when the fastening device 6 is assembled. In addition, a cylindricaljournal 32 extends from the central portion 31, the axis of rotation Aalso forming a central axis of the journal 32. The holding portion 13,the central portion 31 and the journal 32 may be formed integrally withone another, as shown in the drawings. A step 33, having a cylindricalgenerated surface 34, of the central portion 31 transitions into thejournal 32.

The step 33 is formed with a planar end face 35. The end face 35 of thelatch component 8 lies on a facing, planar face 36 of an inner sleeve37, the journal 32 extending through a central opening 41 of the innersleeve 37; see FIG. 7. The inner sleeve 37 is rigidly connected to thelatch component 8 in such a way that when the latch component 8 istwisted about the axis of rotation A the inner sleeve 37 is twistedtogether with the latch component 8. The rigid connection of the innersleeve 37 and the latch component 8 may for example be implemented bymeans of a plurality of screws 42, as shown in FIG. 6.

So as to secure the latch component 8 in the locked position V, thefastening device 6 comprises a first resilient element 43 in the form ofa spring; see FIGS. 5 and 7. As is shown in these drawings, the firstresilient element 43 may be in the form of a helical spring whichdeforms resiliently when loaded with a torque about the axis thereof,which in FIGS. 5 and 7 is coincident with the axis of rotation A. Inthis context, the inner sleeve 37 extends through the first resilientelement 43. Portions 44 of the first resilient element 43 are engagedwith a recess or opening of the inner sleeve 37 and a recess or openingof the base component 7 in such a way that twisting the latch component8 from the locked position V into the unlocked position E counter to atorque, applied by the first resilient element 43 and acting between thebase component 7 and the inner sleeve 37, about the axis of rotation A.In the embodiment shown, the first resilient element 43 is arranged insuch a way that in the locked position V it exerts a torque on the latchcomponent 8 in such a way that the latch component 8 does notundesirably automatically move out of the locked position V. In thisexample, an operator therefore has to apply a particular torque, forexample by hand, to the latch component 8 so as to pass it into theunlocked position E.

The inner sleeve 37 and the first resilient element 43 are providedinside a clearance 38, in particular cylindrical, which is provided inthe base component 7. On an underside 9 of the base component 7, amounting plate 39 comprising a central opening 39 a is fastened to thebase component 7. The journal 32 extends through the central opening 39a. An end, projecting through the central opening 39 a, of the journal32 is provided with a thread, making it possible to screw a crown nut 40onto the journal 32. The crown nut 40 is braced on the mounting plate 39via a leaf spring 40 a, causing the base component 7 to be held on thelatch component 8.

In the region of the step 33, a clearance 45 extending substantiallyradially with respect to the axis of rotation A is provided in thecentral portion 31 of the latch component 8, and extends from thegenerated surface 34 into the latch component 8 and may for example bein the form of a cylindrical hole. A second resilient element 46, whichin the embodiment shown is in the form of a compression spring, isreceived in the clearance 45. The second resilient element 46 is bracedagainst the latch component 8 and loads an engagement element 47—whichis likewise arranged inside the clearance 45 and is displaceably guidedin a radial direction R within the clearance 45 in the latch component 8(see FIG. 6)—with a force, causing the engagement element 47 to beresiliently coupled to the latch component 8. As a result, the secondresilient element 46 presses the engagement element 47 radially outwardsaway from the axis of rotation A. As is shown in FIG. 6, the engagementelement 47 is equipped with a rounding 48 on the face thereof remotefrom the second resilient element 46.

In addition, a stop element 49 is connected to the latch component 8 inthe region of the step 33—see FIG. 6—in such a way that the stop element49 projects beyond the generated surface 34 of the step 33.

As is shown in FIG. 7, the latch component 8 is provided with an axialmounting face 51 and a radial mounting face 52 on the central portion 31thereof. The mounting faces 51 and 52 make rotationally movable slidingmounting of the latch component 8 on the base component 7 possible bymeans of a mounting ring 53. The mounting ring 53 is rigidly connected,for example screwed, to the base component 7. The materials of the latchcomponent 8 and the mounting ring 53 are preferably selected so as toresult in a material pairing which is favourable for sliding mounting.

A cylindrical upper face 54 a—which faces the generated surface 34 ofthe step 33 when the fastening device 6 is assembled—of athrough-opening 54 of the mounting ring 53 is provided with twoengagement recesses 55 a and 55 b and with a pocket 56. The stop element49 engages in the pocket 56, which extends over an angle ofsubstantially 90 degrees around the axis of rotation A, the stop element49 being present at a respective end of the pocket 56 in the unlockedposition E and in the locked position V respectively. As a result, theangle of rotation α is limited to an angle of substantially 90 degrees,and it is provided that the latch component 8 cannot be twisted beyondthe provided locked position V or the provided unlocked position E.

In the locked position V, shown in FIG. 6, of the latch component 8, therounding 48 of the engagement element 47 engages so as to lock into theengagement recess 55 a, which is likewise formed rounded, under theaction of the second resilient element 46. By contrast, after the latchcomponent 8 is twisted into the unlocked position E, the rounding 48 ofthe engagement element 47 engages so as to lock into the engagementrecess 55 b, which is likewise formed rounded. In this way, it can beprovided that the latch component 8 engages releasably in the lockedposition V and in the unlocked position E with respect to the basecomponent 7.

For example, the first and second resilient elements 43 and 46 may beformed in such a way that the latch component 8, when it has beenbrought into the unlocked position E, remains in said position withoutany activity by the operator, so as to make it easier to set down orremove the mechanism 2. As a result of the operator applying a torque tothe latch component 8 about the axis of rotation A, the engagementelement 47 can be released from the engagement recess 55 b, counter tothe action of the second resilient element 46, and the latch component 8can be passed into the locked position V in which the latch element 47engages so as to be locked releasably in the engagement recess 55 a. Inturn, the engagement is released by the operator applying a sufficienttorque to the latch component 8.

In the locked position V, the latch component 8 is thus held in thelocked position V by means of the first resilient element 43 andsimultaneously by means of the releasable engagement of the engagementelement 47 in the engagement recess 55 a, until the operatordeliberately applies a sufficient torque to the latch component 8 so asto pass it into the unlocked position E. The latch component 8 is thusdoubly secured against undesired adjustment out of the locked positionV. Even if one of the resilient elements 43, 46 should fail, it can beensured that the latch component 8 does not move out of the lockedposition V of its own accord.

In addition, any failure of one of the resilient elements 43, 46 can bemade apparent to the operator. If the first resilient element 43 fails,for example by breaking, the torque acting between the latch component 8and the base component 7 from the first resilient element 43, counter towhich torque the latch component 8 is adjusted from the locked positionV into the unlocked position E, disappears. This can be detected by theoperator when operating the fastening device 6. By contrast, if thesecond resilient element 46 fails, this is apparent from the lack ofengagement of the engagement element 47. In this way, it canadvantageously be provided that a defect of this type in the fasteningdevice 6 is noticed during operation and can be eliminated.

Additional securing of the latch component 8 against undesired releaseof the latch component 8 from the base component 7 along the axis ofrotation A is additionally provided by the cooperation of the mountingring 53 and the inner sleeve 37. An external diameter of the innersleeve 37 is formed larger, in the region of an end facing the mountingring 53, than an internal diameter of the through-opening 54 of themounting ring 53. The end 37 a may form a circumferential shoulder forthis purpose. As a result, the latch component 8 is not only secured bymeans of the crown nut 40 and the leaf spring 40 a against the latchcomponent 8 being pulled upwards out of the base component 7, but isadditionally held back on the mounting ring 53 by means of the innersleeve 37 which is rigidly connected to the latch component 8.

In the fastening device 6 in accordance with this embodiment, the tworesilient elements 43 and 46, as well as the engagement element 47, theengagement recesses 55 a, 55 b, the stop element 49 and the pocket 56,are arranged in the interior of the fastening device 6 so as to be wellprotected against external influences.

The components of the fastening device 6 and of the mechanisms 2 inaccordance with the embodiment shown are preferably manufactured frommaterials which are suitable for use in the field of air and spacetravel. The person skilled in the art can select suitable metal and/orplastics materials for each component in accordance with the mechanicalloads which are to be expected.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above entirelyby way of preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but can bemodified in various ways.

Even though the latch component is provided with two holding portions inthe embodiment shown, the latch component could also for example onlycomprise one holding portion. In this case, the base component could forexample be formed in such a way that it only makes it possible to lay onand releasably fix a single mechanism.

As disclosed above, the fastening device may advantageously be used forreleasably fastening roller tracks, which are preferably reversible, inthe region of a cargo hold floor. However, the fastening device may alsobe found to be of use for releasably fastening other mechanisms, inparticular other components of a cargo loading system, in the region ofthe cargo hold floor.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fastening device for releasably fastening amechanism in the region of a floor, in particular a cargo hold floor, ofan aircraft or spacecraft, comprising a base component, which isprovided so as to be rigidly coupled to a floor component which isformed for introducing a load into the floor; and comprising a latchcomponent, which comprises at least one holding portion comprising alatch-component-side holding face and is coupled to the base componentsuch that the latch component is movable between an unlocked positionand a locked position with respect to the base component; wherein thelatch component is formed such that, when the mechanism is positioned inpart in a predefined mounting position on the floor component and/or onthe base component, the holding portion engages around a fasteningportion, which is formed on the mechanism and which comprises at leastone mechanism-side holding face, in the region of the mechanism-sideholding face during the passage of the latch component into the lockedposition, such that the latch-component-side holding face faces themechanism-side holding face; and the latch-component-side holding faceis formed such that during passage of the latch component from thelocked position into the unlocked position a gap between thelatch-component-side holding face and the mechanism-side holding facecontinuously widens; wherein the base component is formed such that itcan be brought into positive engagement with the fastening portion ofthe mechanism, when the mechanism is laid in part on the floor componentand/or on the base component in the predefined mounting position, suchthat it is made possible for tensile loads to be transferred between themechanism and the base component in a first direction, the firstdirection extending substantially perpendicular to a second direction,along which the fastening portion of the mechanism can be fixed by thecooperation of the latch-component-side holding face and themechanism-side holding face; and wherein the base component comprises aprojection which is formed and arranged such that the projection can beintroduced into an associated opening of the mechanism, when themechanism is laid on the floor component and/or on the base component,so as to bring about the positive engagement.
 2. The fastening device ofclaim 1, wherein the passage of the latch component into the lockedposition makes it possible to bring the latch-component-side holdingface into planar contact with the mechanism-side holding face.
 3. Thefastening device of claim 1, wherein the latch-component-side holdingface forms a portion of a screw face.
 4. The fastening device of claim1, wherein the mechanism-side holding face forms a portion of a screwface.
 5. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein the latch component isformed such that the latch-component-side holding face can be broughtinto engagement with the mechanism-side holding face in the manner of athread when the mechanism is positioned in the mounting position on thefloor component and/or on the base component and the latch component ispassing from the unlocked position into the locked position.
 6. Thefastening device of claim 1, wherein the latch component is mounted onthe base component so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, thelatch component being able to be moved between the unlocked position andthe locked position by way of a rotational movement about the axis ofrotation.
 7. The fastening device of claim 6, wherein the passage of thelatch component from the locked position into the unlocked position orfrom the unlocked position into the locked position can be brought aboutby twisting the latch component about the axis of rotation through anangle of less than 180 degrees, preferably through an angle ofsubstantially 90 degrees.
 8. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein afirst resilient element, in particular a first spring, is provided,which is coupled to the base component and the latch component such thatthe first resilient element counters the passage of the latch componentfrom the locked position into the unlocked position.
 9. The fasteningdevice of claim 8, wherein the latch component and the base componentare coupled to one another such that the latch component latchesreleasably at least in the locked position, preferably in each of thelocked position and the unlocked position; and wherein a secondresilient element, in particular a second spring, is provided, by whichan engagement element, displaceably guided in the latch component, isresiliently coupled to the latch component, and in that at least oneengagement recess associated with the locked position, and preferablyadditionally a further engagement recess associated with the unlockedposition, is provided on the base component or on a part rigidlyconnected to the base component, the engagement element being able toengage in said engagement recess or engagement recesses for releasableengagement under the action of the second resilient element.
 10. Thefastening device of claim 1, wherein the latch component and the basecomponent are coupled to one another such that the latch componentlatches releasably in each of the locked position and the unlockedposition.
 11. The fastening device of claim 10, wherein a resilientelement, in particular a spring, is provided, by which an engagementelement, displaceably guided in the latch component, is resilientlycoupled to the latch component, and in that at least one engagementrecess associated with the locked position, and preferably additionallya further engagement recess associated with the unlocked position, isprovided on the base component or on a part rigidly connected to thebase component, the engagement element being able to engage in saidengagement recess or engagement recesses for releasable engagement underthe action of the resilient element.
 12. The fastening device of claim1, wherein the base component comprises at least one support portioncomprising at least one support face, and wherein in the unlockedposition of the latch component the fastening portion of the mechanismcan be laid in part on the support face.
 13. The fastening device ofclaim 1, wherein the projection is formed such that it only fills up theassociated opening of the mechanism in part upon engagement.
 14. Anarrangement for a cargo loading system of an aircraft or spacecraft, inparticular of an aeroplane, comprising at least one mechanism, inparticular a roller track, which is provided for moving, conveying,handling or movably supporting cargo, in particular packaged goodscargo, cargo pallets and/or cargo containers, and comprising at leastone fastening device for releasably fastening the mechanism in theregion of a floor of the aircraft or spacecraft according to claim 1;wherein the fastening portion is formed with the at least onemechanism-side holding face on the mechanism.
 15. The arrangement for acargo loading system of claim 14, wherein the mechanism is formed so asto be reversible, the fastening portion comprising an upper side and anunderside and a mechanism-side holding face being formed in the samemanner in each case in the region of the upper side and the underside ofthe fastening portion.